NATION 1 Faroe Islands – the connected nation

The first in a series of films with Lesley Riddoch exploring Scotland’s inspiring northern European neighbours and what we can learn. Despite being a remote cluster of islands with population of just 50 thousand people (1% of Scots population.), the Faroe Islands certainly don’t think small.

The Faroes took on global giant Google to protect their language and identity and have created the world’s fastest mobile broadband (a reserved issue in Scotland). The key factor in these success stories has been the Faroes Parliament: without doubt, the world’s most powerful devolved parliament. This wee nation relies heavily on fish which represents around 95% of exports but life in the Faroes is changing.

A new generation, enthused by a proximity to political power, are shaping these traditionally conservative islands into a brighter, more open society that more and more want to live in. The Faroes is also finding itself at the centre of things as new opportunities in the Arctic present themselves.

The island connects in all kinds of ways – through tunnels that join the separate islands, by air with the rest of the world and its own national airline and is also reconnecting with nature to create world-class food. There’s a lot to reflect on about the future of the Faroes and Scotland but the ultimate connection is clear: with power comes confidence. Created by Lesley Riddoch and Phantom Power Films.